What do you think of when you hear the word metabolism? We’ve been taught to associate metabolism with weight loss. But metabolism is actually a whole lot more. It’s what gives your body the energy to do what you do each day. It’s both the chemical and physical processes that go into creating the energy supply you need to move, walk, jump and play.
Metabolism is what guides the food you eat through your system, making it available for your body to use as fuel. That’s why it’s important to eat the right foods to get the most nutrients possible. The more vitamins and minerals you feed in, the better your body can operate, the healthier it will stay.
Think of it in similar terms to a car. Yes, you can fill it with regular fuel, but a far superior product is the super unleaded. Your car processes it better and will perform better.
In similar fashion, you can fill your body with processed foods, or choose a plant-based diet filled with good-for-you foods. Which will help your body perform better?
What do you ask your body to accomplish each day? Running, pilates, sitting in an office chair, keeping up with the kids, a night out with your spouse. We’re constantly running from one place to the next, demanding our bodies keep up with whatever we choose to dish out. And don’t think for a moment that sitting all day is easier than a 30 minute workout; it simply changes how you require your body to function.
Your body needs energy all the time. And that’s where metabolism comes into play. Shorting your body by not giving it a healthy breakfast only makes your body change and work in different ways. Instead, fueling it with healthy breakfast, lunch, and dinner, followed by sensible snacks morning, afternoon and night, can give your body the protein and carbohydrates it needs.
Water is essential to the process. Sensible snacks include nuts, a piece of fruit, or a high quality piece of protein.
If you’re hungry, eat. It’s your body’s way of asking for the fuel it needs to do the job it’s intended to do. Just be sure to make sensible choices, taking in smaller meals more frequently rather than larger meals fewer times of the day.